Bangkok--21 Nov--Standard & Poor’s Top Ten Portfolio also Experiences Substantial Growth Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services reports that its 2007 Global Picks and Top Ten model portfolios have substantially exceeded their respective benchmarks over the last ten months. Year-to-date through October, Standard & Poor’s Equity Research’s Global Picks has achieved a return of 45.7%, while its benchmark, the S&P Global 1200 Total Return, has returned 16.7%. Over the same period, Standard & Poor’s Equity Research’s Top Ten Portfolio has returned 34.9% compared to a 10.9% return for the S&P 500. Standard & Poor’s PowerPicks also outperformed its benchmark, showing a 13.4% gain over the same period, compared with a 10.9% increase for the S&P 500. “Despite turbulent global equity markets, S&P’s Global Picks and Top Ten model portfolios have significantly outperformed their benchmarks,” says Stephen Biggar, Director of Global Equity Research at Standard & Poor’s. “We believe this reflects the breadth and balanced approach of our analytical efforts, and our global equity research team’s excellent job of differentiating among the more than 2,000 stocks we cover. Our model portfolio performance has benefited from a focus on companies with high foreign sales exposure. Also, with the PowerPicks and Global Picks portfolios frozen for the year, the strong performance reflects the ability of S&P’s analysts to select stocks with staying power through periods of uncertainty.” The Top Ten Portfolio is comprised of 5-STARS (“Strong Buy”) stocks that Standard & Poor’s Equity Research believes are well poised for risk-adjusted total return prospects over the coming 12 months. These recommendations are based on Standard & Poor’s proprietary STARS (STock Appreciation Ranking System) methodology. STARS evaluates the 12-month investment potential of a stock, while placing an emphasis on the timing of investment decisions. S&P PowerPicks represents the collective best ideas of Standard & Poor's U.S. equity research analysts, while S&P Global Picks represents the best thinking of the company’s analyst in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Each of the respective stocks highlighted is believed to be well positioned for superior appreciation for the coming 12 months, and each portfolio broadly represents the sectors contained within it. S&P PowerPicks aim is to outperform the total return (capital appreciation plus dividends paid) generated by the S&P 500, while S&P Global Picks’ objective is to exceed the total return of the S&P Global 1200 Index. Standard & Poor’s Equity Research delivers these investment recommendations everyday through products, such as Stock Reports, The Outlook and MarketScope Advisor. These offerings draw from the award-winning complete STARS coverage. Stock Reports include detailed financial information, such as valuation models, sector and peer group analysis, and proprietary Standard & Poor’s metrics like Fair Value and Quality Rankings, on nearly 1,600 U.S.-listed equities, which are used by market professionals. Readers should note that past performance is not a valid indicator of future results.About Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services As the world’s largest producer of independent equity research, Standard & Poor’s licenses its research to over 1,000 institutions for their investors and advisors, including 19 of the top 20 securities firms, 13 of the top 20 banks, and 11 of the top 20 life insurance companies. Standard & Poor’s team of 120 experienced U.S., European and Asian equity analysts use a fundamental, bottom-up approach to assess a global universe of approximately 2,000 equities across more than 120 industries worldwide. Follow Standard & Poor's equity analysts' U.S. market commentary each day at http://www.equityresearch.standardandpoors.com/. The equity research reports and recommendations provided by Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services are performed separately from any other analytic activity of Standard & Poor’s. Standard & Poor’s Equity Research Services has no access to non-public information received by other units of Standard & Poor’s. Standard & Poor’s does not trade for its own account. The analytical and ethical conduct of Standard & Poor’s equity analysts is governed by the firm’s Research Objectivity Policy, a copy of which may also be found at www.standardandpoors.com or by clicking here. For more information contact: Jeff Sexton, Communications, S&P Equity Research, Tel.: 212-438-3448 [email protected] Standard & Poor's, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of financial market intelligence, including independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With approximately 8,500 employees, including wholly owned affiliates, located in 21 countries, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for more than 140 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit http://www.standardandpoors.com. Key Contacts: Americas Media Relations: (1) 212-438-6667 media_ [email protected] Americas Customer Service: (1) 212-438-7280 [email protected]